Truck structure



Aug. 2, 1927.

H. A. HOUSTON TRUCK STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 10. 1925 INVENTOIR I Ham/d 4. l10usf0/I.

WIT ESSES:

Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

umrrza s'r 'r s PATENTOFFICE.

mmn A. mansion, on wuxmsnime, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTING- nousammcmmc & unvrac'ruame coumunr, A CORPORATION or PENNSYL- VAR 1A.

Application med October 10, 1925. Serial No. 61,715.

My invention relatesto railway vehicle trucks, more particularly to supporting trucks of electrical railway vehicles in which the drive motors are embodied in the truck frame portion.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a railway vehicle truck construction which shall be of simple and durable mechanical construction comprising a minimum number of parts thatare so related and coordinated. as to facilitate their assembly and ready accessibility.

Another, object of my invention is to. provide adrailway vehicle truckot' the abovedesignated character which shall embody a pairof drive motors asafpoition of the truck frame and shall have pivotally connected theretoa frame member that is adapted to carry a "ournalled wheel axle.

Another ob ect of my invention is to provides vehicle truck structure embodying a silot axle, atrailing axle and an intermeiate idle axle which are so mounted and as? sociated that they may readily coordinate to adjust themselves to the curvatureof the rails upon which the vehicle operates.

Variousforms of truck structures have been heretofore proposed which embody different means for mounting the drive motors on the truck frame or directly on the wheel axle-and which provide difierent means for $11 orting the railway vehicle thereon.

y present invention contemplates a novel type of truck construction that embodies improved frame construction and supporting means for carrying the vehicle bod with which it is associated. In effecting t isobject, I propose the use of a pair of drive motors which are respectively journalled on a wheel axle and secured in'spaced relation by a pivotally connected frame portion, the motors and said connecting port-ion constituting the truck frame.

The motors are provided with integral bracket portions having recesses for receiving portions of a bolster frame, the, bolster being provided with a center pin that is mounted for engagement with the vehicle body, the weight of which is carried by said bolster.

In the accompanying drawings, constituting a part hereof,

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a railway vehicle truck embodying the principles of my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation thereof.

Referring to the drawing, the structure therein illustrated comprises a pair of motors 1 and 2.having wheeled axles and 4 respect vely journalledtherein and having their opposite sides 5 and 6 joined by pivotal connections 7 to a transversely extending frame member 8; The frame portion 8 is springs 16 that are interposed between the respective end portions 14 and'the motol frames. A center pin connection 17 is pro vided in the depressed central portion of the bolster member 15 to efl'ect a connection with the vehicle body .(not shown) that is carried or supported by the truck. 7 i

As clearly shown in the drawing, the H10- tors 1 and 2 are journalled by axle housings 18 on the airles 3 and 4, respectively, between the wheels of the corresponding axles, and the axle members ma 1 be connected to the respective motor sha ts 19 b gear trains (not shown) that are containe in gear cases 20, Fig. 1, in accordance with a well-known practice. The intermediate wlieel'axle 11 is journalled inthe frame 8 at the outside of the wheels of said axle, the journal boxes 10 being provided at the ends of the aille 11 for this purpose. k

The operation of the assembled truck structure is briefly as follows: The weight of the vehicle is supported on the center pin 17 of the bolster 15, which is supported on the coil springs 16 in the extending brackets 12 of the motor frames. This manner of supportin the load on the truck efiects a substantial y uniform distribution of the load on the axle members 3, 4 and 11 and, further, permits of transverse relative movement between the bolster 15 and the motor frames on which it is supported. The pivotal connection of the frame member 8 with the extended portionsjo and 6 of the motors l and 2 prevents chording of the truck on a curved track, which is an essential feature in the'elimination ofiflange wear on the pilot and trailing axle wheels. The articulated frame constituting both motor frames and the connecting frame member 8 has freedom of motion that is unimpeded by excessive friction that might otherwisebe caused by the load of the vehicle, inasmuch as the distribution of the weight on the motor housings eliminates, to a greatextent, binding at'the joints 7 ofthemotor'frames and central frame. I

"It is evident from the foregoing description of my invention that railway vehicle tracks made in accordance therewith provide eflicient and simple drive units for street railway or lighttraction service, and that the arrangement of the axles and the dis tribution of the load produces a steering action in the pilot axle and an idling function in the trailing axle member, which is free from restraint, while the vehicle followsthe curvature of the rails.

Although I have described a s ecific em bodiment of my invention, it w 1 be ObVl-r ous tothose skilledfin' the art that'various modifications may be made'in the details of construction and inthe size, proportion and relation of the several cooperating parts in set forth.

I claim as my invention:

without departing from the principles hei'e- 1.:The combination, in a railway vehicle truck, of a plurality of wheel axles, motors journalled on some of said axles, and a frame portion for journalling theother of said axles, said frame portion being supported by said motors. Y

2. The combination, in a railway vehicle truck, of a plurality of wheel axles, motors journalled on some of said axles, and a frame portion for journalling {the other of said axles, said frame portion being yieldingly supported by said motors.

3L The combination, ina railwayvehicle truck, of a plurality of wheel axles, motors journalled on someof said axles and a frame portion for journalling the other of said axles, said frame portion being yieldin ly supported by said motorsand adapted, or movement relative thereto.

4. The combination, in a railway vehicle 7 truck, of a plurality of wheel axles, motors ,journalled on some ofsaid axles, and a frame portion for journalling the other of said axles, said frame portion being dyieldin ly supported by said motors and a :ipted or transverse movement relative thereto.

carrying the ve iicle body, and means for supporting said bolsterby said motors.

7. A railway vehicle truck comprising a plurality of wheel axles, motorsjournaled on someof said axles, a frameportion piv otallyconnecting said motors,v a center pin bolster for carrying the vehicle body, and means for yieldingly supporting said olster by said'motors to provide relative transverse movement of said bolster and motors. a 8. A railway vehicle truck comprisin a plurality of wheel axles, motors journa ed on some of said axles, a frame portion piv; otally connecting said motors, a bolster for carryin the vehicle body, and means for supporting saidbolster by said motors, said means comprising a plurality of spripg;90

brackets having transverse slots to, provide movement of the bolster therein. L

9. A railway vehicle truck comprising a pair of motors, a frame pivotally connected thereto, wheel axlesrespectively journalled in said motors and in saidframe, a bolsterv mounteduponfsaid motors and a center pin connection for said bolster to provide apivotal mounting-for the vehicle body.

10. A railway vehicle truck comprising a pair of motors,a frame pivotally connected thereto, wheel axlesrespectively' journalled in said motors andinsaid frame, a bolster mounted in openings in the motor frames, and means for effecting pivotal mounting of the vehicle body upon said bolster.

, 11. A railway vehicle truck comprising a pair of motors, a frame pivotally connected thereto, a wheel axle journalled for rotation in each offsaid motors, another wheel axle journalled for rotationin said frame, a bolster yieldingly supported by said .motors, and means for effecting a supporting connection between said' bolster and the vehicle bodya In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th day of september 1925i "HAROLD A. HOUSTON. 

